Combinational index point sorter



E. A. FORD 2,089,255

COMBINATIONAL INDEX POINT SORTER 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed llarch'l, 1934 Aug.1o, 1937.

WQM am/'Zw ATTORNEY E. A. FORD 2,089,255

COMBINATIONAL INDEX POINT SORTER Filed March 5l, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 10, 1937.

mmm?? E' A'TORNEY Aug. 10, 1937. E. A. FORD COMBINATIONAL INDEX POINT SORTER 7 sheets-sheet 3 Filed March 31, 1934 FIG. 3.

ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1937. E. A. FORD COMBINATIONAL INDEX POINT SORTER Filed March 3l', 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNvENToR A'TTORNEY Aug. l0, 1937. E. A. FORD 2,089,255

COMBINATIONAL INDEX POINT SORTER Filed March 3l, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmmMMmJJLLMMMMlUMMMjLq-j k IHHWlHHHHHIIHHIHIIIWWII Aug. 1o, 1937. E. A. FORD 2,089,255

Filed March 31, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 10, 1937. E. A. FORD COMBINATIONAL INDEX POINT SORTER Filed March 31, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 o oo oo oo o o o o o o o o o ooo oo o oo oo oooo ooo o oo oo o o o o o o o o o o o o O O o o o ooo o o oo o oo o oo o o o o oo o o oo o o o oo o o o o oo ooo oo o o oo y He - INVENTOR BY'2 f v I l l 'r'rToRNEY Wlm Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE International Business Corporation,

New York. N. Y.. a corporation of New York Anuman anni si, 1934, sei-iai No. 11am 11 claims. (ci. :o9-110i The present invention relates to a sorting machine for record cards and more particularly to a machine for sorting cards having combinational holes to designate characters which are 5 analyzed while the cards are in motion.

An important object of this invention is broadly to sort records bearing combinations of index points to designate letters, numerals, or other characters.

l Another object consists in the provision of means for simultaneously analyzing a plurality of index point positions while the card is in motion and controlling sorting paths in accordance with said analysis.

lOther objects further are, severally, to provide l a single analyzing mechanism for analvzing the record combinations, to provide for selectively analyzing either one of a plurality of index point ilelds passing successively past the analyzing means, and to provide a novel means for controlling the selection of the sorting path.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, and the invention also constitutes certain new and novel features of the construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l illustrates a section through the analyzing and distributing mechanism of a sorter.

Fig. 2 is a top view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side view taken on line 3-3 of Fig.1.

.'; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 illustrating the translating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a developed diagram of the positioned combs of the translating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the translating 4a) mechanism.

Fig. 7 illustrates a record card having combi- `national index points.

Figs. 8 and 8a illustrate the types of chute blades.

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram.

Fig. 9a shows the switching mechanism and its coaction with the card contact lever.

In general the machine operates onthe recordl card as follows:-

50 Referring to Fig. 1 the cards are fed one at a time from magazine A through the analyzing mechanism B which is adjusted to read a single selected card column. As the card moves through the analyzing mechanism the analyzing brush 4l 55 senses the perforations in the selected card column simultaneously and in conjunction with contact bars 28 to 3i, to complete a circuit which energizes magnets il (Fig. 4). Energization oi the magnets opens selected guides yIl which lead the card to one of the sorting Dkets Ii. Card-The record card adapted to be sorted by this machine is illustrated in Fig. 7 and has an upper and lower field, only one of which is analysed and sorted stone time. The code used is the combinational hole system wherein the charactcrs are designated by either one, two, three. four, or more holes in a single column. although it is understood the card may have other systems of combination hole designations and still be adapted for sorting by this machine. Character R., for example, is represented by a perforation in the l position and a perforation in the A position and a perforation in the C position.

Card feeding mechanism- Referring to Figs. l and 2 the mechanism shown is similar to the one described in my United States Patent No. 1,772,180, dated August 5, 1930, and therefore will be'explainedin the present case only insomuch as is necessary for a proper understanding of the mechanism involved and its function with respect to the new invention. 'l'here are provided two picker elements I0 each of which is fastened to a reciprocally movable picker carried Il which is actuated by means of bars I2. The bars are hinged on their lower ends to an element generally designated at i3 which is fastened to the frame of the machine. Each of the picker carriers ii has a piece i4 riveted thereto and between this piece and the front piece i5 forming part of carrier il, the upper head It of bar i2 has its fulcrum. The machine frame carries two pairs of guiding pins i1 provided for pressure springs Il holding each bar I2 in contact with the coordinated cam disk Il keyed to the shaft 2l driven by a motor through gearing 2|. It is obvious that the bars I2 will oscillate in unison with turning of shaft 2l and the pickers Il will feed the record cards one by one from the stack lla through the machine. 'Ihe record cards are fed to the analyzing mechanism B in a manner well known in the art, which controls a translating device and this in turn controls the distributing mechanism in accordance with the combinationai index points of the card. 'I'he index points are analyzed while the card isin motion by a mechanism similar to the type described in my U. B. Patent No. 1,909,576, dated May 16, i933, and need only be brley described herein.

Analyzing mechanism-The fixed bar 22 (Pig. 1) hasaslotinwhichacrossbarllisslidablyarranged. Tosaid barisfast asheetmetalsupport 24 having bent up side portions between which are carried an insulating bar 25 having set therein six metallic bars 25 to Il extending completely across the width of support 24 (see Fig. 2). The metal bars 25 to 3i are spaced in accordance with the index point positions 1, 2, A, B, C, D, indicated in Fig. 7. At one end the metal bars are in contact with contact blades I2 to I1 held in position by plate Il fastened io the machine. The contact blades are connected with their associated translating magnets I0 (Figs. 4 and 9) and consequently the proper analyzing bars will be permanently connected with their proper associated translating magnets. For analyzing a card the analyzing brush 45 coacts simultaneously with all said analyzing bars the brush being long enough to cover all six index positions of one column in the upper or lower bank and adapted to simultaneously engage all the bars 25 to Il. The brush 4i is carried by a holder 46 which in turn is insertably carried by a support 4l. This support may be moved transversely by means of a handle and a worm Il which coacts with the support 41 to adjust the brush 45 selectively to any desired record column when the worm is turned. Current is supplied to brush 45 by means of a fixed contact bar 4! which contacts with the brush at all times. One end of the bar 49 is connected with the line (F'ig. 9) leading to the current source. The brush holding mechanism as used in this machine is also described more fully and claimed in my U. S. Patent No. 1,946,904. dated lieb. 13, 1934 to which reference is herewith made.

When the card while moving past the analyzing brush as the index point positions of a selected column just in line with the conducting bars 25 to Il, an analyzing circuit is initiated and is set in condition to be completed through the card perforations wherever these occur. Current will thereby be sent through translating magnets 5I- corresponding to the perforations in the cards. One or more of the translating magnets Il will be energized and this will cause opening of a sorting path for the record card and the control of the distributing mechanism. The distributing mechanism, well known in the art and explained in the above U. S. Patent No. 1,946,904 referred to, includes a plurality of superimposed sorting blades 5l leading to the various sorting stations 5i for the cards (Figs. 1 and 2). Each of the blades leading to the sorting stations representing A to Q inclusive terminates in a single finger I2 (Fig. 8) and each of the blades leading to the sorting stations representing the remaining alphabetical and other characters. terminates in a double finger 5l (Fig. 8a). The said blades have one or two lifting pins 54 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) coacting with the respective fingers depending on the type blade. When any of the said fingers are lifted, the blades are caused to be separated into two groups and provide a passageway for the card to the sorting station in the usual well known manner. 'I'he lifting pins 5I (Fig. 1) when in a free position are urged upwardly by the spring actuated levers 55 rotatably mounted on rods Il. 'Ihere is one lever 55 for each pin 54, the levers 55 are staggered in the upper and lower planes as shown so as to be able to position the pins 54 closely to one another.

The lower portion of the pins 54 is provided with slots 51 suitable for the projections Il on the slidable combs 59 to pass through. 'Ihe pins I4 are prevented from moving upwardly when the projections Il on the combs 59 are positioned in the slots 51 of the said pins.

There are six groups of combs corresponding to the six index positions as indicated on the card in Fig. 7. Groups 1 and 2 have three combs in each group, and groups A, B, C, D, have four combs in each group (Figs. 5 and 6). Each group of combs is held in a locked position by its corresponding group control magnet Gl. The combs 59 are mounted one above the other in frame member 99, fastened to one end of the comb is a block 'Il (Fig. 4) having a projecting stop 1I slidably mounted in the frame member I9; the comb at the opposite end is extended so that its extremity 12 coacts with the member 59 to maintain the comb in proper alignment. A slot I3 is provided in each comb suitable to receive the bell crank lever I4 rotatabLv mounted on shaft 15 and positioned by its corresponding cam I6 keyed on shaft I1 (Figs. 3 and 4). A positioning cam 18 and lever v'Il is provided for'each comb 59, the cams being so arranged that the combs 59 are set in a predetermined position selected by the setting of lever 1l attached to said shaft 11. There are two settings for the lever Il as indicated, the position N for sorting numeral characters and the position A for sorting alphabetical characters as indicated on the card.

As the cards are fed to the analyzing mechanism B by the feed rollers li (Fig. l) and the particular perforations in the card are sensed by the brush 45 in conjunction with the bars 26 to 3i, the magnets 6l are energized by the established circuits, (to be explained laterin connection with Fig. 9) the one or more control magnets energized correspond to the particular group index position, namely, groups l, 2, A, B, C, D to release the particular groups of combs, as follows: The energization of magnet 60 (Fig. 4) mounted on block Il, attracts its armature 62 pivoted at 63 to unlatch plate I4 so as to move to the left about its pivot 5l by virtue of its spring 66 and thus release the locked comb 59 to be able to move in the direction indicated by the arrow through the agency of spring 51. Referring to Fig. 3, it is seen that the plate 64 when unlatched releases or sets free all the combs in the group corresponding to the group control magnet unlatching the said plate 54.

Setting the lever in position A, that is, to sort alphabetical characters the cams 16 are so arranged to position the corresponding bell crank levers Il so as to lock some of the combs 59 in such a position that the projections 5I on the combs 59 do not interfere with the movement of any of the pins Il. Other levers 14 are so positioned by their respective cams Il so as to permit the combs 59 to move by virtue of its spring 6l when the comb itself is unlatched by the plate il.

Referring to Fig. 5 a `developed view of the combs 59 indicates their respective positions in regard to the lifting pins 54 when the lever Il is set in a position for alphabetical sorting. When the group control magnets 50, each particular magnet hereinafter referred to as magnets BI-L "-2, A, etc., corresponding to the index point positions I-2--A, etc., are energized to set the combs in a free position some of the combs will move to the right as indicated in Fig. 5 and others as mentioned before will remain in a locked position because of the setting of levers 14. The movement of the combs 59 to the right as viewed in Fig. 5 is limited by the projection 'il on block 1l fastened to each comb 59 (Fig. 4). It is seen that some of the combs therefore move to the Gar right (Fig. 5) when released while others will' stay in their set position according to the combinational holes of the card.V The differential and oombinational adjustment of the combs will permit just one pin 54 or two pins I4 (depending on thecharacterto besorted. seeFig. 5) tobelifted by its spring, namely, the pin or pins correponding to the meaning of the hole combination while all other pins will be held back by the combs-59 the projections 50 of which while set in the slots I1 of the pins I4 will prevent the pins from moving upwardly. This selection of the pin or pins raises the particular chute blade Il which per- ,A mitsthecard'tobefedtothedesiredpocket 0| byymeans of feed rollers in the usual well known manner to complete the sorting operation. In particular, a selection of the alphabetical character R will be detailed and is as follows: The combinational code for "R" as indicated'in Fig. 7 consists of three perforations, one in the I position. one in the A position and one in the C position. When the card with these perforations is analysed circuits through magnets 00-i. A, ll-C, are established by the brush l0 contacting the respective contact bars leading to the magnets thus energizing the said magnets (Fig. 9). As explained, the energization of the magnets 00-I, A, and Cv releases the plates 00 to set free the corresponding groups ofcombs.

namely, the combs 59 in groups I, A and C (see Figs. 4 and 5). The position of the combs 59 is shown in Fig. 5 as positioned by means of lever in its setting A (Fig. 4). As disclosed hereinbefore the setting of lever 10 permitssome of the combs to move, others are maintained in a locked position, therefore. when the combs in groups I. A and C are released by the corresponding plates 5l, the combs 59 move as follows (Fig. 5) s y In Group 1.-Comh 22 is released and moves to the right as indicated in the ngure. and in so doing locks out all the characters without a hole in this position.

Comb 2l is released but does not move since it is in a locked position, but locked so that its setting does not interfere with any of thepin movements.

Comb 20 is released and moves to the right, and in so doing frees all the pins with a hole in the group position.

In Group A.Comb 16 is released and permitted to move, locking out all the alphabetical characters that do not have a combination in the A position.

Combs l5 and i4 are automatically locked in a free position and do not interfere with any pinA movements.

Comb 13 is released and permitted to move forward freeing all pins representing characters that have a perforation in the A position.

In Group C.-Comb 8 is released and permitted `to move forward locking out all the characters that do not have a combination in the C position.

Combs ,7 and ^6 are automatically locked ina free position.

Comb 5 is released and permitted to move forward freeing all characters that have a perfo tion in this position. l

Analyzing the positionof all the combs in all the groups it will be seen that lifting uns l-'t" are the only pins free to operate and move up, wardly to lift the corresponding chute blade 00 to direct the analyzed card to the correct pocket position corresponding to R". Fig. 0 shows the combsY 59 in the operated position as described above set so as to release the pins referred to and locking all the other remaining pins in an inoperative position (all the'pins Il are not shown).

-. After the card has been fed into the proper sorting path the distributing mechanism must be restored. This is effected in the following way:

.Upon shaft 20 (Fig. i) is fast cam Il coacting with connecting arm 08 pivoted 'to arm 01 mounted on shaft 00. Arm 09 is mounted on the shaft and cross bar l0 in a clockwise direction to per-- mit the selected pins to be raised by the springs 02 and lift the correct chute blade 50 for the analysed card to pass into and then transferred to the selected pocket or station.

Arm 01 through spring 92 will follow the rotation of cam 00 and in so doing will then rock shaft-0l, arm 00 and g1gross bar 90 in a counterclockwise`.direction.to restore all the raised pins 54 to the normal position. At the same time cam Il fast on shaft 04 (Figs. 2 and,4) driven by gearing a on the main drive shaft, will permit bell crank lever 95 fixed on shaft 91 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the cam follower 00 rotatably mounted on arm 96 following the cam 0I causing the arm 00 with attached cross bar |00 common to all the combs 59 and coacting with the block 10 on each comb to restore all the released combs 59 and thus lock the pins I4 which have been restored shortly before into position. The combs 59 will be restored against the action of springs 51 and latched in normal position by plates 0l immediately after the plates have been restored by arm I0| to which is -attached bail |02 common to all plates 5I. Arm III is fast on shaft |03 (Fig. 3) which is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by link |04 pivoted to one arm of bell crank lever 05 actuated by cam 0I as disclosed above. When the plate 54 is restored 'against the action of its spring 00 armature 52 is restored to latch the plate in position by arm |05 rotatably mounted on shaft 91. Arm |06 is fast on shaft 91 rocked in a counterclockwise direction as explained. When arm |05 moves in a counterclockwise direction arm |05 held in the indicated position in Fig. 4 by extension |01 on arm |00 follows the moved arm |00 under action of spring |00. Attached'to arm I 05 is a bail |00 common to all the armatures 02, and coacting therewith to restore them and latch the said plates 0I, and then all the parts are again in normal position and ready for a new sorting cycle.

As previously disclosed shifting of lever 10 (Fig. 4)` to position A or N controls the sorting of alphabetical or numeral characters respectively. With lever 10 shifted to the numerical sorting position the levers 1l are positioned in a predetermined position by their respective cams so as to only sort numerals. With the lever 10 in the alphabet sorting position as disclosed only alphabetical characters are sorted. If cards with numerical perforations are analyzed with the lever 10 in A position it is seen from Fig. 5 that all the pins M corresponding to the numerical characters are' locked out by the combs in groups l and 2 and'therefore since no perforations occur in index positions 1 and 2 for the numerals. no

pins are released when numerical perforations are analyzed with the lever Il so positioned. The chute blades 50 are so arranged that when a card is analyzed and no pins are released to select a blade the card analyzed is directed by one of the chute blades 50 to a reject pocket Il or station. Similarly, when the lever 'II is positioned for numerical sorting and a card is analyzed with alphabetical perforations. the energization of either magnets GII-i or .0 2 will release a comb in the corresponding group to lock all the pins 5I so that a blade is not selected and' the card therefore will be directed to the reject pocket.

It has been mentioned that with the lever 1l shifted to position A, the sorting of alphabetical characters is effected and that the levers Il are positioned by the cams li to position the combs 59 as shown in Fig. 5. With reference to the same figure, when the lever Il is shifted to position N to effect numerical sorting, the levers Il are positioned by the cams 1C to position the combs 59 as follows:

Combs 22, 19, 16, l2, 8 and 4 are locked in the positions shown in Fig. 5. Combs 21, 18, 15, 11, 7, and 3 are released and are free to move to the right as viewed in the figure upon energization of the corresponding magnets 50. Combs 20, 17, 13, 9, 5, and l are positioned to the left by the levers 14 and locked in the said position so that the pins 5I which are shown blocked are freed so that they may be raised. Combs 14, l0, 6 and 2 are released to be normally positioned to the right as viewed in the figure so that the projections 59 will prevent the positioning of the pins 54. Upon energization of the corresponding magnets G0 these last mentioned combs are free to move to the right as viewed in the figure, thus releasing certain of the said pins 5l. It is evident now from the described positioning of the combs for both alphabetical and numerical sorting why certain of the combs such as l, 2, 5, 6, 9, and 10, etc. are shorter than the others Some of the shorter combs during alphabetical sorting, such as 2, 6, 10, etc. are locked in the free position shown and others such as 1, 5, 9, etc. are free so that they may be positioned to the right upon energization of the control magnets. How,- ever, during numerical sorting, combs 1, 5, 9, etc. are locked in the extreme position to the left and combs 2, 6, l0, etc. are released by levers 'Il to be normally positioned to interfere with the corresponding pins, but which may be released further to move to the right to release said pins upon energization of the corresponding control magnets. Thus it is seen that the shorter combs may be maintained in several positions whereas the longer combs are only locked in the position shown in the figure, or freed so that they may move to the right upon energization of the control magnets.

The operation of the machine is controlled by contacts H0 (Figs. 9 and 9a) which govern the current circuit. It the tiltably mounted element I|| is rocked to the right the lever ||2 will close the contacts III and as soon as card feeding has been initiated these contacts will be held closed by the well known card contact lever Il which is pivotally mounted at H4 and one arm of which passes slightly within the path of the record cards.

'Ihe contacts lil will be automatically opened after exhaustion of the card supply through the arm Il! which is pivotally connected to element III and under the tendency of a spring trying to move it upwardly which movement is permitted as soon as card lever ||2 does not coact with cards running through the machine.

In order to enable selective analyzing of either the upper or lower index point field as shown in the card in Fig. 7 four cams Ill, ||1, III, ||l (Fig. 9) are provided coacting with associated contacts |22, |2|, |22, |23. The make and break contacts |29 and |2| are so timed with relation to the feeding mechanism that current is supplied to the brushes while the lower card field or position is under the brush while timing of make and break contacts |22 and |22 is such that an instantaneous impulse is supplied to the brush at the moment the upper field is under the brush. Sorting may be effected selectively in either one of said fields by switching lever |24 either to line of contacts |29 and |2| or the line including contacts |22 and |22.

Briefly summarizing the operation of the machine: If the numerals or the alphabetical characters are to be sorted, the adjustable lever Il (Fig. 4) is set accordingly either in N or A position. 'lhev analyzing brush 45 is then adjusted by means of worm l (Fig. l) to position for sensing the desired card column. Current may be supplied from the source to the machine by the main switch |21 (Fig. 9). When the operator closes the contacts in the previously described manner relays |25 and |26 will be energized and will connect the motor |22 with the supply initiating the feeding of the cards by picker I0 into feed rolls 0| which feed the card beneath the analyzing brush in synchronism with rotation of cams IIC, ||1, H9, Il! so that the brush is sensing the lower field when the respective cams make and break the contacts |22 and |2| and sensing the upper field on the card when contacts |22 and |22 make and break.

The occurrence of combinational perforations in either field in the selected column of the card results in the analyzing brush engaging the corresponding contact bars 26 to 2| (Figs. l and 9) simultaneously to complete the energizing circuits of the magnets 6I rresponding to the positions in which the perforations occur. Energization of the magnets l, 6.-2, A, l-B, "-C and D attracts their respective armatures l2 to unlatch the plates 64 setting free the combs 59 in the respective groups to release a pin or pins corresponding to the character designated by the combination of perforations. The pin or pins contact the respective guide or chute blade $0 providing an entrance for the card which is continuously advanced by the series of spaced rolls Il till it falls into the sorting pocket 5| communicating with the opened guide. Those cards which are not sorted continue to advance to a reject pocket.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A machine for sorting record cards bearing combinational index point designations representing groups of characters comprising analyzing means, a translating device comprising a plurality of groups of translating units one group `ing combinational yindex a,oso,ass

being provided for each index point position of the record. a plurality of'station guides selecting members controlled by the said translating device, settable means for controlling the position of each of the translating umts when diiferent groups oi' characters are to be sorted, and means controlled. upon the analysis of a character, by said analysing means for causing certain transllating units in the groups corresponding to the index point positions on the card analyzed to\\` render certain selecting members operative and certain selecting members inoperative when the positioning means is set for sorting one group ot characters and permitting the same translating units to render dinerent selecting members operative when the positioning means is set for sorting another group of characters.

2. In a sorting machine for record cards bearpoint designations, analyzing, means therefor,v a translating device comprising a plurality of groups of translating units one group being provided for each index point position of the record, means controlled by the analyzing means to release all of said .units in the groups corresponding to the positions of index point designations to be analyzed. and means coacting with said translating units to prevent certain .of the said units in the last named groups from being released upon analysis of the index point designations.

3. In a sorting machine for record cards bearing combinations] index point designations, analyzing means therefor, a translating device comprising a plurality of groups of translating units one group being provided for each index point position of the record, a plurality of adjustable station guide selecting members controlled by said translating device, means controlled by the analyzing means to release all of said units in the groups corresponding to the positions of index point designations to be analyzed. and means coacting with said translating units to prevent certain of the said units in the last named groups from being released upon analysis of the index point designations but not interfering with the adjustments of said selecting members and permitting certain of said units to be released to allow certain of said selecting members to be adjusted.

4. In a sorting machine for record cards bearing combinational index point designations representing characters, analysing means therefor, a plurality of guides for leading said cards to different destinations corresponding to the diiferent characters, a translating device comprising a plurality of groups of translating units one group being provided for each index point position of the card, a plurality of movable guide selecting members controlled by said translating device, means controlled by the analn'zing means to release all of said umts in the groups corresponding to the positions of index point designations to be analyzed, means coacting with said translating units to position certain translating units in the said groups so as not to be released upon analysis of the index point designations but not interfering with the movement of said selecting members and permitting certain of said units to be released upon analysis of said designations. and means lin the said released translating units to render the said selecting members movable corresponding to the guide leading to the destination for the character analysed.

5. A sorting machine for cards bearing combinational index point designations, analysing means therefor, a translating device comprising a plurality oi groups of movable translating units one group being provided for each index point position of the card, means controlled by the analyzing means to release all of said units" in the groups corresponding to the positions of index point designations to be analyzed, and setisabley means coacting with said translating units to limit their movement when released upon analysis of a card. i

6. In a sorting machine for record cards bearing combinational index point e 1 tions representing groups of characters, an means therefor, a translating device comprising a plurality of groups of translating units, one group being provided for each index point position of the record, settable means coacting with said translating units to position said* units in a predetermined manner for the sortingl of a predetermined group of characters.

'1. A sorting machine for record cards bearing combinational index point designations representing group characters, analyzing means therefor, a translating device comprising a plurality of groups of translating units one group being provided for each index point position of the record, a plurality of movable station guideselecting members controlled by said translatingv device, means controlled by the analyzing means to release all of said units in the groups corresponding to the positions of index `point designations to be analyzed. means coacting with said translating units to position said units in a predetermined manner for the sorting of a predetermined group of characters, and means in the said units to prevent movement of all said selecting members upon analysis of a card by said analyzing means with designations representing a group of characters dissimilar to the group of characters to be sorted.

8. In a sorting machine for sorting records bearing kcombinational index point designations comprising an analyzing device, a plurality of guides for leading said records to their destinations, a plurality of guide openers for engaging said guides, slots provided on each of said guide openers, a translating device comprising a plurality of groups of translating units one group provided for each index point position of the recordl control members included in each translating unit, a plurality of levers engaging each translating unit to pomtion each said unit so that the control members of certain of said units engage the slots of certain guide openers and so that the control members of other of said units do not engage the slots of other guide openers, and the said units of the translating device controlled by said analyzing means for eifecting the selection of guide openers, upon analysis of the record, by the operation of certain of thepositioned units.

9. A machine for sorting cards bearing combinational index point designations representing characters comprising analyzing means, a plurality of g'uides for leading said cards to different destinations corresponding to the different characters, guide selecting members, a plurality of groups of translating units cooperating with said selecting members. a group provided for each index point position and consisting of a plurality of superimposed units and means controlled upon the analysis of a character by said analyzing means for causing certain of the said translating units of the groups corresponding to the index point positions on the analyzed card 15 means i'or causing certain of the said units oi the groups corresponding to the index point positions on the analysed card to render operative said selecting members corresponding to the guides representing characters having similar index point 20 positions.

11. A machine for sorting cards bearing cornbinational index point designations representing characters comprising analymng means, a pluraiity o! guides for leading said cards to dinerent destinations corresponding to the dinerent characters guide selecting members, a plurality oi' groups of translating units cooperating with said selecting members, a group provided for each index point position and comprising a plurality ot superimposed units, and'means controlled upon the analysis oi' a character by said analyzing means simultaneously causing certain of the said units of the groups corresponding to the index point positions on the analyzed card to render inoperative said selecting members corresponding to the guides representing characters not having similar index point positions and to render operative those selecting members corresponding to the guides representing characters having similar index point positions.

EUGENE A. FORD. 

